Solar wireless collector beacon (data hub)

ABSTRACT

A solar wireless collector beacon (data hub) and associated method stores source data, received wirelessly from a data source, in a data buffer of the data hub. Sensor data is read from one or more onboard sensors of the data hub and stored as structural and/or environmental data in the data buffer. The environmental data is processed to determine an operating status of a vehicle being used with the data hub and an energy harvester of the vehicle is controlled to harvest energy from the vehicle based on the operating status. One or more of the operating status, the source data, and the environmental data is wirelessly transmitted from the data hub to an external device.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/675,137, titled “Solar Wireless Collector Beacon”, filed May 22,2018, and incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

In performance cycling, it is important to measure and quantify effortand resulting performance. There are many different devices availablethat may be attached to a bicycle to measure speed, power, and otherperformance data, and many other devices available that may be attachedto the rider to measure heart rate, breathing rate, and other metrics.Results from these devices are typically collected by various wirelesscomputer head units and/or applications running on a smartphone, and therider must later collect and analyze the data from the separate devicesto determine overall performance and results. The performance of therider is affected by environmental conditions, such as the smoothness ofthe surface being ridden upon, gradients of the surface, weatherconditions (e.g., air temperature, wind direction and speed, etc.).However, the rider does not have this information readily available.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present embodiments includes the realization that withthe availability of more devices for cycling, there is a need tosimplify how the data captured by those devices is gathered andanalyzed. While some of the data may be handled on different existingplatforms (e.g., cycling head units, cell phones, etc.), there iscurrently no single device available to the general consumer thatcollects all available data, simplifies uploading of that data, andperforms collective analysis of that data. The present embodiments solvethis problem by providing a solar wireless collector beacon (referred toas a “data hub” hereafter) that uses electronics (e.g., memory, at leastone processor, and built-in sensors) with wireless communicationprotocols to intelligently aggregate data from nearby sensors andenvironmental data to quantify a ride. Advantageously, the data hub is asingle device that collects data from many sources and transfers thatdata to a remote server for storage and processing. The data hub mayinclude a display screen and a rechargeable battery that is charged by asolar panel to make the data hub maintenance free. A further advantageis that the data hub may be seamlessly integrated into the mechanicaldesign of the frame, stem or handlebars of a bicycle. In otherembodiments, the data hub may be available as an aftermarket productthat is easily attached to a bicycle.

A second aspect of the present embodiments includes the realization thatmany devices require battery power and that batteries need changing. Thepresent embodiments solve this problem by providing a solar wirelesscollector beacon (data hub) that includes one or more energy harvesters,such as a solar panel and generators that harvest energy from rotarymotion, to charge a rechargeable battery. Advantageously, the data hubmanages its own power and is a self-contained device.

A third aspect of the present embodiments includes the realization thatbicycles and many other vehicles do not have a unique identifier orserial number. The present embodiments solve this problem by including aunique identifier in the solar wireless collector beacon (data hub),where the data hub detects alteration or tampering with this uniqueidentifier. Advantageously, the data hub may also operate as a beaconthat includes the unique identifier that allows any vehicle configuredwith the data hub to be tracked.

A primary function of the data hub is to capture and record informationabout the bicycle, the cyclist, surrounding cyclists, and/or surroundingenvironment. The data hub stores a unique identifier (ID) that may bequeried or transmitted as a wireless beacon. This wireless beacon may beused for locating lost or stolen bicycles using a crowd-sourced ordedicated finder network. Particularly, when integrated into a frame ofa bicycle, the data hub provides a more secure way of identifying andtracking the bicycle.

The collected data may be made available to an end user (e.g., therider/cyclist), and at least part of the collected data may also be madeavailable (with user authorization and/or anonymization) to one or moreof a manufacturer of the bicycle, a retailer of the bicycle shop, andmunicipalities. In today's connected world, there is the ability toanalyze large data sets, but currently resources are lacking to collectand consolidate this information. The data hub will act as this centralpoint so that the data describing use patterns, product and riderhistories and the ability to improve rider safety through tracking andalert functions, can be consolidated into a permanent fixture on thebicycle. The data hub is capable of collecting and presenting a widerange of information relating to the cyclist, including inferredinformation based upon parameters of the environment of the ride.

In an embodiment, a solar wireless collector beacon (data hub), includesa processor, a memory in electronic communication with the processor, aunique identifier, stored in the memory, a communicator in electroniccommunication with the processor and operable to communicate wirelesslyusing at least two different protocols, communicate through a network toa server, and identify other wireless devices near the data hub. Thedata hub also includes a plurality of onboard sensors configured tosense an environment of the data hub, the plurality of onboard sensorsincluding one or more of an accelerometer, altimeter, humidity sensor, aphotosensor, a camera, a satellite navigation receiver, and athermometer. The data hub also includes at least one solar panel, arechargeable battery, and a power circuit for charging the rechargeablebattery using power from the at least one solar panel and for poweringthe processor, the memory, the communicator, and the plurality ofonboard sensors from power stored in the rechargeable battery. The datahub also includes a housing, shaped to integrate with a vehicle (e.g., abicycle), for containing the processor, the memory, the communicator,the plurality of onboard sensors, the at least one solar panel, therechargeable battery, and the power circuit. The data hub also includesa data buffer configured as part of the memory, and firmware, havingmachine readable instructions stored in the memory that, when executedby the processor, control the processor to: determine, at intervals, acurrent location of the data hub and store the current location in thedata buffer; read, at intervals, sensor data from the plurality ofonboard sensors and store the sensor data in the data buffer; determinean environmental status of the vehicle based at least in part upon thesensor data; and transmit, at intervals, a message including the uniqueidentifier, the current location, and the environmental status, to aremote server.

In another embodiment, a wireless collector beacon method includes:storing, in a data buffer of a data hub, source data received wirelesslyfrom a data source; reading sensor data from one or more onboard sensorsof the data hub and storing, in the data buffer, environmental datagenerated from the sensor data; processing, by the data hub, theenvironmental data to determine an operating status of a vehicle (e.g.,a bicycle) being used with the data hub; controlling, by the data hub,an energy harvester of the vehicle based on the operating status; andwirelessly transmitting, from the data hub to an external device, one ormore of the operating status, the source data, and the environmentaldata.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing one example solar wirelesscollector beacon (data hub) integrated with (or attached to) a bicycle,in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the data hub of FIG. 1 infurther example detail, in an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the server of FIG. 1 infurther example detail, in an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing detail of one example solarwireless collector beacon (data hub) that includes data analysisalgorithms, in an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one example solar wireless collectorbeacon (data hub) method, in an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating one example method for receiving,storing, and processing, information from a data hub, in an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating data collection by the datahub of FIG. 1 in a sport application, in an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating example data collection bythe data hub of FIG. 1 in a medical application, in an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating example relative positiontracking of multiple data hubs of FIG. 1 using time of flight and angleof arrival, in an embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating example communicationbetween the data hub of FIG. 1 and one or more cell phones or othernetwork-enabled devices for data transfer and for finding lost data hubsand assets attached to lost data hubs, in an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating example data collectionusing the data hub of FIG. 1 for data transfer to one or more of cellphones, and other network-enabled devices, and for locating lost datahubs, in an embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional schematic illustrating integration of thedata hub of FIG. 1 into a head portion of a bicycle frame, in anembodiment.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional schematic illustrating further exampledetail of the integration of the data hub of FIG. 12 , in an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In the following examples, a data hub is integrated with, or connectedto, a vehicle that is a bicycle and operates to collect data for a ride.However, the data hub may be configured with other vehicles and deviceswithout departing from the scope hereof. For example, the data hub maybe configured with, or attached to, a skateboard, to collect data whilea rider skates. In these examples, the “ride” represents the activitybeing monitored, wherein the data hub operates to collect all relevantand available data that may relate to that ride.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing one example solar wirelesscollector beacon (hereinafter data hub) 102 integrated with (or attachedto) a bicycle 103 to collect information of use (e.g., a ride) of thebicycle by a cyclist 150. Although the following examples focusprimarily upon collecting data during a ride, data hub 102 may alsocollect data when bicycle 103 is not being ridden, such as when bicycle103 is being stored, transported and/or moved. However, data hub 102 maycollect less data (e.g., listening and sensing less frequently) when notbeing ridden.

Data hub 102 collects data from a plurality of data sources 120, 124,configured with and/or attached to one or both of bicycle 103 andcyclist 150 (e.g., a user/rider of bicycle 103). Data hub 102 may alsoreceive wireless signals 129, 133 from other data sources 128, and 132associated with other riders, vehicles, and data sources withinenvironment 104. Data hub 102 may also include one or more onboardsensors (e.g., see onboard sensors 226 of FIG. 2 ) that detectcharacteristics of environment 104. In one example, data source 120 is apower meter attached to or integrated with bicycle 103, data source 124is a heart rate monitor worn by cyclist 150, data source 128 is a powermeter attached to another bicycle riding within environment 104, anddata source 132 is a status transmission from a vehicle (e.g., a car, atruck, a pacer vehicle, etc.) within environment 104.

In this example, data hub 102 receives a wireless signal 121 with powerdata 122 from the power meter integrated with bicycle 103, and awireless signal 125 with heart-rate data 126 from the heart-rate monitorworn by cyclist 150. The power meter and the heart-rate monitor may beregistered with data hub 102, and therefore data hub 102 decodescorresponding power data 122 from wireless signal 121 and heart-ratedata 126 from wireless signal 125. Data hub 102 may store power data 122and heart-rate data 126 within an internal memory, and/or relay powerdata 122 and heart-rate data 126 to a mobile communication device 110and/or a server 170. Data hub 102 may not decode and/or record data 130of wireless signal 129 or data 134 of wireless signal 133, since thecorresponding devices are not registered with data hub 102. For example,each data source 120, 124, 128, and 132, may have a unique device IDthat is included within each wireless signal (e.g., wireless signals121, 125, 129, and 133) that it transmits. Data hub 102 may include atable (list) of device IDs of devices that are registered, such that itmay determine which wireless signals to decode. Accordingly, data hub102 may not store all of data 130 and data 134. However, upon receivingwireless signal 129 and 133, data hub 102 may determine that other datasources 128, 132 (and therefore corresponding vehicles or persons) arenearby. For example, upon receiving wireless signal 129, data hub 102may determine, based on a device ID included within wireless signal 129,that the data source is a bicycle power meter that is not registeredwith data hub 102. Thus, data 130 is not specifically relevant toperformance of cyclist 150, but presence of wireless signal 129indicates that another cyclist is within environment 104 (e.g., nearby).Similarly, wireless signal 133 indicates that the data source 132 is avehicle information transmitter that is not registered with data hub102, but indicates that a vehicle is within environment 104 (e.g.,nearby). In certain embodiments, data hub 102 may infer the presence ofother vehicles and riders within environment 104. In other embodiments,one or both of a mobile communication device 110 and a server 170 mayreceive certain information from wireless signals 129 and 133 and inferpresence of other vehicles and riders. In some cases, wireless signal133 may be a long-range wireless signal using LTE-M protocol, fortransferring data to other vehicles, data centers, individuals, and soon. Based upon wireless signals 129 and 135, data hub 102 and/or server170 may infer that cyclist 150 is riding with at least one other riderand has an accompanying vehicle.

In this example, where wireless signal 129 is received frequently, atintervals, by data hub 102, data hub 102 may infer that cyclist 150 isriding with another cyclist (since continuing presence of wirelesssignal 129 indicated that they remain together). Where data hub 102detects multiple non-registered power meter signals (e.g., similar towireless signal 129), data hub 102 may determine that cyclist 150 isparticipating in a race and/or group cycling activity. Data hub 102 mayrecord such inferred information in association with power data 122 andheart-rate data 126 of cyclist 150, thereby providing additional contextfor the activity of cyclist 150.

Data hub 102 may read, at intervals, sensed data from the onboardsensors (e.g., see onboard sensors 226 of FIG. 2 ) that definescharacteristics (e.g., roughness of surface, gradient, temperature, andso on) of environment 104 in which bicycle 103 is operating. Data hub102 may store characteristics of environment 104 in association withpower data 122 and heart-rate data 126 of cyclist 150 to furthercharacterize the activity of cyclist 150.

Data hub 102 may send accumulated data to mobile communication device110 where it may be manipulated, otherwise processed, and/or viewed bycyclist 150. In turn, mobile communication device 110 may send theaccumulated data and inferred information to server 170, via one or bothof a service provider 112 and the Internet 160. With appropriatepermissions, this data may be provided to bicycle manufacturers,distributers and retailers (see Manufacturer and Retail Reports, below).In certain embodiments, data hub 102 is configured with long-rangecommunication capability (e.g., one or more of cellular LTE-M, LoRA,Sigfox, etc.) such that data hub 102 communicates with server 170, via aservice provider (e.g., service provider 112). LTE-M is a low-powerwide-area (LPWA) technology which supports the Internet of things (IoT)through lower device complexity and provides extended coverage, whileallowing the reuse of the LTE installed base. The LTE-M standard ispublished in the Release 13 specification by 3GPP. However, data hub 102may use other protocols and wireless technologies without departing fromthe scope of the embodiments herein.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing solar wireless collectordata hub 102 of FIG. 1 in further example detail. Data hub 102 may beimplemented as a low-power system-on-chip (SOC) and may include aprimary battery 204 and/or a secondary battery 206 that electricallyinterface with a power circuit 208 that manages power usage and monitorscapacity of batteries 204 and/or 206 to provide power to components ofdata hub 102. Data hub 102 may also include one or more energyharvesters 210 (e.g., energy harvesting transducers such as solar cells,piezoelectric, dynamos, and/or generators) that electrically connect topower circuit 208, which may use the harvested power to charge secondarybattery 206. In one example, energy harvester 210 is configured toextract energy from rotary motion generated by one or more of wind(e.g., wind turbine), at a bottom bracket (e.g., crank) of bicycle 103,and from the pedals rotating about the cranks.

Data hub 102 may also include an energy interface 212 that allowssecondary battery 206 to be charged from other power sources, such as anexternal power source via an external USB port. For example, energyinterface 212 may be electrically connected, or magnetically coupled, toa plug-in adapter to charge secondary battery 206. In certainembodiments, energy interface 212 may provide power from secondarybattery 206 to other components of bicycle 103, including, but notlimited to, an electronic shifter, a power meter, a bike head unit,lights, suspension control units, and electric assist motors. In theseembodiments, secondary battery 206 may be sized to operate as a centralpower source for the bicycle based on power requirements of these othercomponents.

Power module 236 may, at intervals, determine an operating status 254 ofdata hub 102 and/or bicycle 103 based upon environmental data 252 (e.g.,sensor data captured from onboard sensors 226) and/or personal data 248.For example, power module 236 may determine an angle of bicycle 103 todetermine whether cyclist 150 is riding down a hill. In another example,power module 236 may process personal data 248 to determine an amount ofeffort being exerted by cyclist 150. In another example, power module236 may determine intensity and frequency of lateral movement of a frameof the bicycle 103 to determine whether cyclist 150 is standing to applymore power to pedals of bicycle 103. Accordingly, operational status 254may indicate current riding conditions being experienced by cyclist 150.

Power module 236 may control, based on operating status 254, energyharvester 210 to harvest energy at a rate that ensures that secondarybattery 206 has a sufficient level of power for operation of bicycle 103without overly increasing effort required by cyclist 150 to rechargesecondary battery 206. In embodiments where energy harvester 210 is adynamo or generator that is incorporated within a wheel or crank of abicycle, energy harvester 210 may be configured to continuously capturea small percentage of available energy during operation (e.g., a ride)of bicycle 103. Alternatively, energy harvester 210 may be controlled bypower circuit 208 to capture a greater percentage of available energywhen operating status 254 indicates that bicycle 103 is braking and/orgoing downhill. Power circuit 208 may control energy harvester 210 tonot harvest energy when operating status 254 does not indicate thatbicycle 103 is braking or going downhill. That is, power module 236 maycontrol energy harvester 210 to harvest only unused/unwanted energy(that is, when excess energy is available) from bicycle 103 to rechargesecondary battery 206 without adverse impact upon the performance ofcyclist 150. Cyclist 150 may interactively define configuration 244 tocontrol operation of energy harvester 210 based upon adesired/acceptable performance impact. For example, cyclist 150 mayinteract with user interface 260 of data hub 102 and/or mobileapplication 282 running on mobile communication device 110, to setparameters of configuration 244 to control when energy harvester 210 isactivated to harvest energy. Other wireless devices may also be used todefine configuration 244, for example, by interacting (e.g., via webinterface 307, FIG. 3 ) with server application 272 of server 170 todefine configuration 244.

In embodiments where data hub 102 is not integrated into bicycle 103(e.g., data hub 102 is an add-on product attached to bicycle 103), oneor both of primary battery 204 and secondary battery 206 may be omittedwhen data hub 102 is powered from a central battery unit of bicycle 103(e.g., where bicycle 103 has a central power source that powers otherelectronic components of bicycle 103).

Data hub 102 may include a communicator 214 that implements wirelesscommunication (transmitting and receiving) using one or more protocols,such as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), ANT+, vehicle to everything (e.g.,V2X, B2X, B2V, etc., using one or more of IEEE 802.11p, LTE-V2X, LTE-M,and so on). BLE is a wireless protocol that enables two-way wirelesscommunication between low-powered devices. Although BLE is used in thefollowing example, the Bluetooth protocol (not low energy) may also beused. ANT+ is a multicast wireless sensor network technology that isconceptually similar to BLE, but is oriented towards ultra-low power andmore flexible connectivity and mesh networking. V2X, B2X, and B2V arededicated short-range communication (DSRC) protocols based upon IEEE802.11p and may be used by vehicles (including motor cycles andbicycles) to communicate with other vehicles, pedestrians, andinfrastructure. For example, a bicycle may communicate information toother vehicles (including other bicycles) and pedestrians, etc. Incertain embodiments, communicator 214 is a digital wireless radiocircuitry/module implementing one or more wireless transceivers (e.g.,an integrated circuit such as Nordic Semiconductors nRF52).

In certain embodiments, communicator 214 may also be configured toreceive local wireless 802.11 (Wi-Fi) signals and to detect (e.g.,sniff) SSIDs and similar identifiers of nearby Wi-Fi networks. DetectedSSIDs may be used for determining an approximate location of data hub102, for example. Communicator 214 may implement other wirelessprotocols without departing from the scope hereof. However, manysensor-based devices use one or more of BLE, ANT+, V2X, B2X, etc. forcommunication. For example, a bicycle power meter on a crank of abicycle may wirelessly communicate sensed power applied to a pedal to acycle head unit located on the handlebar of the bicycle using the ANT+protocol. A heart-rate monitor chest strap may communicate a sensedheart rate to a watch using the BLE protocol. Accordingly, data hub 102may detect wireless signals of such devices when they are withinwireless range. In the example of FIG. 1 , wireless signal 129 is anANT+ signal generated by a power meter of a nearby bicycle, and wirelesssignal 133 is a V2X signal from a nearby vehicle.

Data hub 102 may include at least one digital processor 220 and memory222 that may be implemented using one or more of RAM, ROM, FLASH, DRAM,and so on. In certain embodiments, processor 220 and memory 222 may becombined on a single chip. Memory 222 stores firmware 224, configuration244, data buffer 246, and a unique identifier (ID) 232. Firmware 224(e.g., software) includes machine-readable instructions that, whenexecuted by the processor 220, control the processor 220 to implementfunctionality of data hub 102 described herein. Firmware 224 may includea configuration module 234, a power module 236, and a data module 238.Configuration module 234 may cause processor 220 to interactively definea configuration 244 of data hub 102. Power module 236 may causeprocessor 220 to control, at least in part, operation of power circuit208 to monitor power levels of, and control power usage from, primarybattery 204, and monitor power levels of, control charging of, andcontrol power usage from, secondary battery 206. Data module 238 maycause processor 220 to control communicator 214 to receive wirelesssignals (e.g., wireless signals 121, 125, 129, and 133) and tocommunicate with one or more of mobile communication device 110, serviceprovider 112, and server 170. Data buffer 246 may be implemented as acyclic buffer for storing one or more of personal data 248, anonymizeddata 250, and environmental data 252. For example, data buffer 246 maybe used to store personal data 248, anonymized data 250, andenvironmental data 252 as it is collected until the data may betransferred to another device (e.g., mobile communication device 110and/or server 170). Data hub 102 may include a real-time clock (RTC)262, implemented as a chip or part of processor 220 for example. RTC262, once set to the current time by configuration module 234communicating with server 170 for example, allows data module 238 totime-stamp collected data stored in data buffer 246 with the time it isreceived or determined. The real-time clock may, at intervals,synchronize with mobile communication device 110, when paired and withincommunication range.

Data module 238 may process received wireless signals (e.g., wirelesssignals 121, 125, 129, and 133) and generate personal data 248 and/oranonymized data 250. For example, where data module 238 receiveswireless signals 121 and/or 125, data module 238 generates personal data248 based at least in part upon power data 122 and heart-rate data 126.That is, where data module 238 determines that wireless signals 121 and125 are from registered devices (e.g., based upon a unique ID of thedevice received in the wireless signal), data module 238 decodescorresponding power data 122 and heart-rate data 126 to generatepersonal data 248. Where data module 238 determines that wirelesssignals 129 and 135 are not from registered devices (e.g., based upon aunique ID and/or a device ID received in the wireless signals), datamodule 238 generates anonymized data 250 indicative of the signalpresence and/or of the device presence. In one example, anonymized data250 may generate anonymized data 250 to include a first unique ID and/ora first device ID received in wireless signal 129 with a measured signalstrength of wireless signal 125, and to include a second unique IDand/or a second device ID received in wireless signal 135 with ameasured signal strength of wireless signal 135. In certain embodiments,data module 238 may define a number and type of devices withinenvironment 104 based upon received wireless signals. For example, basedupon received wireless signals 129 and 135 with included device types ofpower meter and vehicle, respectively, data module 238 may determinethat one unknown cyclist is within environment 104 and that one unknownvehicle is within environment 104, and generate anonymized data 250 toindicate this.

A unique identifier (ID) 232 (e.g., a unique serial number) uniquelyidentifies data hub 102. Advantageously, where data hub 102 isintegrated with bicycle 103 (or any other type of vehicle or asset),unique ID 232 may also be used to uniquely identify bicycle 103 (orother vehicle or asset). In certain embodiments, data hub 102 may detectwhen tampering occurs. For example, processor 220, under control offirmware 224, may send an alert to server 170 when it detects that datahub 102 is compromised. Tampering may be detected when one or more ofthe following occur: strain within data hub 102 exceeds a definedthreshold, a membrane has been broken, the system electronics have beencompromised, and checksums/hashes defined for the firmware, uniqueidentifier 232, and configuration 244 are incorrect.

In certain embodiments, data hub 102 may include a display 228 fordisplaying a status, data fields, and/or other information collectedand/or inferred by data hub 102. For example, firmware 224 may causeprocessor 220 to control display 228 to show one or more of a currentspeed, power, average speed, average power, distance, heartrate, averageheartrate, time, elapsed time, etc. For example, cyclist 150 mayinteract with one or both of user interface 260 and mobile communicationdevice 110 to define configuration 244 to control display of informationon display 228. In certain embodiments, particularly where data hub 102is integrated with bicycle 103, display 228 may be omitted from data hub102, and data hub 102 may communicate wirelessly with a remote display230, positioned elsewhere on bicycle 103 for example, to show similarinformation. In certain embodiments, data hub 102 may also send similarinformation to mobile communication device 110 for output (e.g., via adisplay of mobile communication device 110 or audibly via speakersand/or headphones of mobile communication device 110) to cyclist 150.Data hub 102 may also send similar information to other devices (e.g.,heads-up displays, watches, etc.) worn or used by cyclist 150.

Configuration module 234 controls processor 220 to interact with cyclist150, via user interface 260 and display 228 (remote display 230) and/orvia mobile communication device 110, to define configuration 244 tocontrol operation of data hub 102. For example, during initial operationof data hub 102, cyclist 150 may interactively identify and/or classifywireless signals 121 and 125 when detected by communicator 214, toregister the corresponding power meter (data source 120) and heart-ratemonitor (data source 124) with data hub 102.

Data hub 102 may include one or more onboard sensors 226 selected fromthe group including an accelerometer, a rate gyro, a magnetometer, abarometer, a temperature sensor, a light sensor, a humidity sensor, andso on. Data module 238 may also control processor 220 to read, atintervals (e.g., accelerometer(s) at 100 Hz, locator 264 at 0.2 Hz, andso on), one or more of onboard sensors 226 to determine characteristicsof environment 104. Data module 238 may also cause processor 220 tosend, via communicator 214, messages 180 including data from data buffer246.

In certain embodiments, data hub 102 includes a locator 264 thatdetermines a current geographic location of data hub 102. Locator 264may be implemented as a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver thatdetermines the current location of data hub 102 based upon receivedsatellite signals. For example, data module 238 may, at intervals,invoke locator 264 to determine a current location, and data module 238may store the determined location, with a current time determined fromRTC 262, as environmental data 252 in data buffer 246. Locator 264 maybe omitted in certain embodiments, whereby data hub 102 may interactwith other devices to receive location information. For example, wheremobile communication device 110 is a smartphone that includes a GPSreceiver, mobile application 282 may determine the current location ofthe smartphone and send that location to data hub 102. In anotherexample, when mobile communication device 110 receives message 180 fromdata hub 102, mobile application 282 may determine and store a currentlocation with data received from data hub 102, thereby tagging the datawith a current location.

Data module 238 may cause processor 220 to control communicator 214 toreceive wireless signals (e.g., wireless signals 121, 125, 129, and 133)from environment 104. In certain embodiments, data hub 102 maycommunicate with a second data hub 102′ that is also within environment104. In one embodiment, where second data hub 102′ is attached to, orintegrated with, another bicycle, data hub 102 and data hub 102′ mayexchange one or both of anonymized data 250 and/or environmental data252. For example, where data hub 102′ has determined a current location,data hub 102′ may send its current location to data hub 102, whereindata hub 102 may infer its location to be near that of second data hub102′. In another embodiment, where data hub 102′ is static (e.g.,attached to a post or structure along a cycling route or street), seconddata hub 102′ may be configured with its location, which it may transmit(e.g., in a wireless data hub or is response to a request) to data hub102. Accordingly, data hub 102 may learn its current location fromproximity to second data hub 102′. Further, second data hub 102′ maydetect proximity of data hub 102, or receive a communication from datahub 102, and thereby track a number of cyclists using the route nearsecond data hub 102′.

In certain embodiments, data hub 102 also communicates with a local hub280 (e.g., a Wi-Fi hub that is configured to relay messages 180 fromdata hub 102 to server 170). For example, where data hub 102 hassufficient power available for running the Wi-Fi protocol, data hub 102may connect to and communicate with local hub 280 when in range.

A plurality of data hubs 102 that are within wireless communicationrange of one another may operate as a herd, where in one data hub 102 ofthe herd may provide location information to other members of the herd.In certain embodiments, mobile communication device 110 may notifycyclist 150 when data hub 102 becomes separated. Where data hubs 102form a herd, server 170 may also provide herd tracking, notifying acorresponding cyclist 150 when data hub 102 is separated from the herdand/or extending the moving heard.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating server 170 of FIG. 1 infurther example detail. Server 170 is a networked computer and mayinclude a processor 302, a memory 304 communicatively coupled withprocessor 302, a network interface 306, and a web interface 307. Memory304 may store server application 272 (e.g., software) and database 274.However, database 274 may be implemented, at least in part, external ofserver 170 without departing from the scope hereof.

Cyclist 150 may register, via web interface 307 for example, unique ID232 of data hub 102 with server 170 to create a cyclist account 330. Asshown, cyclist account 330 may be created within database 274 to store,in association with unique ID 232, personal data 332, inferred data 334,environmental data 336, and usage data 338, where personal data 332includes personal data 248 received from data hub 102, inferred data 334may include anonymized data 250 received from data hub 102, andenvironmental data 336 includes environmental data 252 (e.g., data fromonboard sensors 226) received from data hub 102. For example, server 170receives messages 180 from a plurality of data hubs 102 and stores thereceived data in the corresponding cyclist account 330 in database 274.

Server application 272 may include a data module 310, an awarenessmodule 312, a tracker 314, a usage module 316, a maintenance module 318,and a report generator 320. Data module 310 controls processor 302 toreceive messages 180 from data hubs 102 and store the received data inthe corresponding cyclist account 330 based upon unique ID 232. Forexample, where message 180 includes environmental data 252 captured byone or more onboard sensors 226 and/or locator 264 of data hub 102,

Awareness module 312 may implement one or more algorithms that controlprocessor 302 to analyze data as it is received within messages 180 togenerate additional inferred data 334. In one example, where message 180indicates a first device ID, a first device type, and a correspondingsignal strength (in a range of one to five, five being the strongest) offour, awareness module 312 may look-up the first device type todetermine that the wireless signal was from a power meter, and therebyinfer that another cyclist is near data hub 102.

In certain circumstances, awareness module 312 may also infer a locationof data hub 102 from location information of other data hubs and/ordevices. For example, where data module 238 has not, for a definedinterval, received location data from data hub 102 (e.g., when data hub102 is unable to determine its location directly using locator 264),awareness module 312 may search within anonymized data 250 for a uniqueID and device type ID recently received within a wireless signal by datahub 102, with a device ID and device type ID registered with a seconddata hub. From the match, awareness module 312 may infer that data hub102 is near the second data hub, and thereby use a recent locationdetermined by the second data hub (e.g., as stored in a correspondingcyclist account of the second data hub) as the location of data hub 102.

Awareness module 312 may also analyze environmental data 336 todetermine a type and severity of terrain being traversed by bicycle 103.For example, where environmental data 336 includes one or both ofaccelerometer data and/or gyro data captured from one or more onboardsensors 226 of data hub 102, awareness module 312 may determine one ormore of surface smoothness, variation in surface smoothness, surfacetype, variation in surface type, terrain type, variation in terraintype, gradient, variation in gradient, variation in direction, and soon. Thereby, awareness module 312 may construct timeline data 339 ofdifficulty of terrain being traversed by bicycle 103. Particularly,timeline data 339 is based upon environmental data 336 captured duringthe ride, and is a statistic desired by many riders.

Tracker 314 may be invoked, at intervals, by server application 272 totrack movement of data hub 102 based upon received, or inferred,location information of data hub 102. For example, tracker 314 mayprocess one or both of inferred data 334 and/or environmental data 336for cyclist account 330 associated with data hub 102 to generatetracking data 337, stored in database 274 in association with cyclistaccount 330, and that defines a path and timeline of movement of datahub 102. Tracking data 337 thereby defines a history of movement of datahub 102 and bicycle 103. Tracking data 337 may be combined withdifficulty of terrain information determined by awareness module 312 tofurther characterize and/or categorize the ride and performance ofcyclist 150.

Tracking data 337 and difficulty of terrain information determined byawareness module 312 may be further combined with personal data 332 andenvironmental data 336 to better understand and categorize theperformance of cyclist 150. This combined and complete information maybe used to better track analyze and monitor training by cyclist 150, andmay also show how cyclist 150 worked with training partners. Forexample, inferred data 334 may be analyzed to determine how many othercyclists are riding near cyclist 150. Further, based upon IDs of devicesreceived by data hub 102, awareness module 312 may also determine ifthey are the same or changing cyclists. For example, where the sameunregistered heart-rate device is detected through the ride, awarenessmodule 312 may determine that cyclist 150 and this other cyclist areriding together. Further, based upon signal strength of thecorresponding wireless signals and effort being exerted by cyclist 150(e.g., based upon power meter data stored within personal data 332,awareness module 312 may also determine when cyclist 150 is draftingbehind this other cyclist and when cyclist 150 takes a turn in front. Inanother example, awareness module 312 may process power data withinpersonal data 332 and terrain data of environmental data 336 todetermine how often, when, and under what conditions and/orcircumstances, cyclist 150 stands to pedal. Further, awareness module312 may also determine an amount of sway imparted to bicycle 103 bycyclist 150, and under what conditions and/or circumstances.

Awareness module 312 may be invoked to monitor compliance with one orboth of medical advice, and insurance rules dictating lifestyle. Forexample, the characteristics and/or categories of the ride andperformance of cyclist 150 may provide evidence of compliance by cyclist150 to prescribed activity (or failure to comply with inactivity).Onboard sensors 226 may detect a crash occurring, and firmware 224 mayuse communicator 214 to report the crash to server 170 when cyclist 150is unresponsive. For example, firmware 224 may send an emergency alertto server 170 containing a current location of data hub 102 based uponlocator 264. Server 170 may then notify emergency services to the aid ofcyclist 150 based upon the received current location. Data hub 102thereby enhances safety of cyclist 150 by detecting and reporting whencyclist 150 crashes or is involved in an accident.

Maintenance

Server application 272 may invoke usage module 316 to analyze one ormore of personal data 332, inferred data 334, and environmental data 336and generate usage data 338 indicative of usage and/or wear of bicycle103 and/or components (e.g., brakes, gear selectors, chain, bearings,etc.) attached to bicycle 103. For example, usage data 338 may indicateone or more of types of trails ridden by cyclist 150, how often,duration, speeds, performance intensity, and so on. Usage module 316 mayalso generate usage data 338 to indicate levels of stress applied tobicycle 103 by cyclist 150. For example, where cyclist 150 frequentlyclimbs steep hills over a rough terrain while standing from the saddleto apply large forces to the pedals, usage module 316 may determine thatwear on bicycle 103 is significantly greater than wear on a bicycle usedmostly for flat smooth terrain over the same distance. Maintenancemodule 318 may apply determined usage characteristics to a wear model ofbicycle 103 (e.g., as defined by the manufacturer) to determinerecommended maintenance intervals for bicycle 103 based upon actualusage. For example, maintenance module 318 may generate a maintenancetask report 342 that is sent to cyclist 150 and one or more of an email,a text, and a notification via mobile communication device 110 andmobile application 282 for example.

Cyclist 150 (or a mechanic of cyclist 150) may interact with mobileapplication 282 to indicate maintenance performed on (or changes andmodifications made to) bicycle 103, wherein maintenance module storesthe performed maintenance and/or modification a maintenance data 340.Mobile application 282 may then transfer the maintenance details toserver 170. Alternatively, cyclist 150 may interact with web interface307 of server 170 to enter details of maintenance performed on (orchanges and modifications made to) bicycle 103. Maintenance module 318may process one or more of personal data 332, inferred data 334,environmental data 336, usage data 338, and maintenance data 340 todetermine when bicycle 103 should next be serviced and generatemaintenance task report 342 to notify cyclist 150 of such service needs.In certain embodiments, maintenance module 318 may send maintenance taskreport 342 to mobile application 282 that causes mobile application 282to display one or more notifications of upcoming service requirementsfor bicycle 103 based upon usage data 338 and maintenance data 340.Where environmental data 336 indicates that bicycle 103 was involved ina recent crash, maintenance module 318 may generate maintenance taskreport 342 to instruct cyclist 150 to perform certain checks on bicycle103 and/or to replace certain components that, based upon theenvironmental data 336 (e.g., forces and movements sensed by onboardsensors 226) indicate a severity of the crash. Where data hub 102 isintegrated with bicycle 103 during manufacture of bicycle 103, data hub102 records all events that bicycle 103 is involved in, including eventoccurring during shipping, during sales, during storage, and during use.Advantageously, capture of this data by data hub 102 provides a fullhistory of events for bicycle 103.

Manufacturer and Retail Reports

Manufacturers and retailers of bicycles and bicycle equipment rarelyreceive detailed feedback on how a particular bicycle is being used.Typically, the manufacturers and retailers only receive reports offaults with products once they have been sold. Through server 170,manufacturers and/or retailers may receive detailed statisticalinformation of how their brands, models, and components are being used,based upon quantitative measurements by data hub 102. Such informationis far superior to conventional surveys used by manufactures andretailer to receive feedback.

Manufacturers and retailers may have accounts with server 170 that allowthem to request reports on their products. For example, serverapplication 272, through interaction with a manufacturer and/or aretailer, may invoke report generator 320 to generate one or both of amanufacturer report 344 and a retail report 346. When invoked, reportgenerator 320 analyzes a plurality of cyclist accounts 330 withindatabase 274 to generate manufacturer report 344. For example, reportgenerator 320 may select ones of cyclist accounts 330 within database274 that correspond to one of a particular brand of bicycle, aparticular model of bicycle, a particular component, and so on. Reportgenerator 320 then processes usage data 338 and maintenance data 340 ofselected cyclist accounts 330 and generates statistics on how thatparticular brand of bicycle, model of bicycle, and/or bicycle componentis being used. For example, report generator 320 may generatemanufacturer report 344 for a particular model of bicycle, accumulatingstatistical data that may include one or more of trails where thebicycles are ridden (e.g., environmental data 252/336), terrain typeswhere the bicycles are ridden, surface types where the bicycles areridden, effort levels used in the rides, speeds used in the rides, andso on. For a retailer, report generator 320 may generate retail report346 corresponding to a range of bicycle models, providing statistics onuse of these bicycles on trails in an area around the retail location.For example, for a retailer based in Moab, retail report 346 may providestatistics on the brands and models of bicycles used on trails in thatarea. In another example, retail report 346 may detail use of bicyclessold by that retailer in that area. In another example, a manufacturermay request manufacturer report 344 with statistics for a particularbrand and model of bicycle used on trails in a particular area andindicating retail locations where those bicycles were purchased.Manufacturer report 344 and/or retail report 346 may include otherinformation such as a time of year the bicycles are sold, priceinformation, and buyer demographics, for example.

Security

Since data hub 102 may be integrated with bicycle 103 duringmanufacture, data hub 102 is inseparable from the frame of bicycle 103.Further, since data hub 102 includes unique ID 232, bicycle 103 may beidentified by receiving a signal containing unique ID 232 from atransmitted wireless signal beacon and/or by requesting unique ID 232 byinteracting with data hub 102. Accordingly, bicycle 103 may beidentified (e.g., an owner determined) by receiving unique ID 232 fromdata hub 102, and querying server 170, for example. Therefore, data hub102 adds trackability to bicycle 103.

Further, since data hub 102 may periodically determine and record itscurrent location (e.g., using locator 264 and/or other locationmethods), data hub 102 may track its movements. Data hub 102 may reportthose movements to server 170 when communication path is available. Forexample, data hub 102 may use communicator 214 to send trackinginformation to server 170 via one or more of mobile communication device110, service provider 112, local hub 280, and Internet 160. For example,any smartphone running the appropriate application may receivecommunications from data hub 102 and relay that information to server170. Advantageously, where cyclist 150 reports bicycle 103 stolen,server 170 may send any tracking information received from (or about)data hub 102 to cyclist 150. For example, server 170 may notify cyclist150 of a location of bicycle 103 via mobile communication device 110 asone or more of an email, a text, and a notification. In certainembodiments, cyclist 150, through interaction with mobile application282, may indicate that bicycle 103 is parked. This information may berelayed to server 170, wherein server application 272, upon receivingdata from data hub 102 indicating that bicycle 103 is moving, mayimmediately send an alert to cyclist 150 (e.g., via mobile application282 and mobile communication device 110).

Advanced Data Hub Performance

Where goals for data hub 102 is small and efficient, as available power(both electrical and processing) power increases in small computingdevices, it is anticipated that functionality implemented by data hub102 may also increase. Accordingly, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagramshowing detail of one example solar wireless collector beacon (data hub)402 that includes data analysis algorithms. Data hub 402 is similar todata hub 102 of FIG. 2 , where like numbered elements have similarfunctionality and benefit from the above description of FIG. 2 ;accordingly, the description of which is not repeated.

Firmware 424 includes machine-readable instructions stored in memory 222and, similar to firmware 224, includes configuration module 234, powermodule 236, and data module 238. Firmware 424 further includes anawareness module 412 that operates to process one or more of personaldata 248, anonymized data 250, and environmental data 252 to inferadditional states and activities of data hub 402, stored in data buffer246 as inferred data 434. Awareness module 412 may have similarfunctionality as awareness module 312 of FIG. 3 . Firmware 424 mayfurther include a tracker 414 that functions similarly to tracker 314and operates to generate tracking data 437 that defines path andtimeline of movement of data hub 402. Firmware 424 may further include ausage module 416 that functions similarly to usage module 316 togenerate usage data 438, stored in data buffer 446, that defines useand/or wear of a bicycle to which data hub 402 is integrated toattached, and/or components (e.g., brakes, gear selectors, chain,bearings, etc.) of the bicycle. Firmware 424 may further include amaintenance module 418 that functions similarly to maintenance module318 to generate maintenance data 440, stored in data buffer 446, thatdefines at least maintenance performed on the associated bicycle.

Data hub 401 may transfer at least part of inferred data 434, trackingdata 437, usage data 438, and maintenance data 440 to server 170 via oneor more of mobile communication device 110, local hub 280, and serviceprovider 112. Data hub 404 may display at least part of inferred data434, tracking data 437, usage data 438, and maintenance data 440 ondisplay 228 and/or transfer at least part of inferred data 434, trackingdata 437, usage data 438, and maintenance data 440 to mobilecommunication device 110 for display.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating one example solar wireless collectorbeacon (data hub) method 500. Method 500 is implemented in firmware 224of data hub 102 and/or firmware 424 of data hub 402.

In block 502, method 500 receives a wireless signal. In one example ofblock 502, data module 238 causes processor 220 to control communicator214 to receive one or more of wireless signals 121, 125, 129, and 133.Block 504 is a decision. If, in block 504, method 300 determines thatthe received wireless signal is from a device registered with the datahub, method 500 continues with block 506; otherwise, method 500continues with block 510. In block 506, method 500 determines personaldata from the wireless signal. In one example of block 506, data module238 processes wireless signal 121 to determine power data 122 capturedfor cyclist 150 by data source 120. In block 508, method 500 stores thepersonal data in the data buffer. In one example of block 508, datamodule 238 stores personal data 248 tagged with a current date/time fromRTC 262 in data buffer 246.

In block 510, method 500 anonymizes data received in the wirelesssignal, thereby generating anonymized data. In one example of block 510,data module 238 ignores identification information and data values ofwireless signal 129, but determines that wireless signal 129 is from apower meter. In block 512, method 500 stores the anonymized data in databuffer 246. In one example of block 512, data module 238 storesanonymized data 250 tagged with a current date/time from RTC 262 in databuffer 246.

In block 514, method 500 reads sensor data from onboard sensors. In oneexample of block 514, data module 238 controls processor 220 to read oneor more onboard sensors 226 (e.g., one or more of an accelerometer, arate gyro, a magnetometer, a barometer, a temperature sensor, a lightsensor, a humidity sensor, etc.) to determine characteristics ofenvironment 104. In block 516, method 200 determines environmental datafrom the sensor data. In one example of block 516, data module 238generates environmental data 252 from one or more of the sensor datadetermined from onboard sensors 226, and location data from locator 264.In block 518, method 500 stores the environmental data in the databuffer. In one example of block 518, data module 238 storesenvironmental data 252, tagged with a current time/date determined fromRTC 262, in data buffer 246.

In block 520, method 500 transmits at least part of the data buffer toconnected devices. In one example of block 520, data module 238transmits, via communicator 214 and from data buffer 246, one or moremessages 180 containing unique identifier 232 and one or more ofpersonal data 248, anonymized data 250, and environmental data 252, tomobile communication device 110 and/or local Wi-Fi hub 280. Thereceiving device (e.g., mobile communication device 110 and/or localWi-Fi hub 280) may then relay the data to server 170.

In block 522, method 500 processes at least part of the environmentaldata to determine an operating status of the data hub. In one example ofblock 522, power module 236 processes at least part of environmentaldata 252 to determine operating status 254 of bicycle 103 as riding on adownhill gradient. In block 524, method 500 controls energy harvesterbased upon the operating status. In one example of block 524, powermodule 236 controls energy harvester 210 to harvest energy at a highlevel when operating status 254 indicates that bicycle 103 is ridingdown a steep grade.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating one example method 600 for receiving,storing, and processing, information from a data hub. Method 600 may beimplemented in server application 272 of server 170 and/or, at least inpart, in mobile application 282 of mobile communication device 110.

In block 602, method 600 receives a message containing data from a datahub. In one example of block 602, data module 310 receives message 180,containing one or more of personal data 248, anonymized data 250, andenvironmental data 252, from data hub 102. In block 604, method 600stores the data from the message in the database in association with auser account. In one example of block 604, data module 310 stores one ormore of personal data 332, inferred data 334, and environmental data336, in cyclist account 330 of database 274 where cyclist account 330has unique ID 232 that matches the unique ID contained within message180.

In block 606, method 600 processes data of the user account andgenerates inferred data. In one example of block 606, awareness module312 processes one or more of personal data 332, inferred data 334, andenvironmental data 336 and infers that cyclist 150 is riding with agroup of other cyclists based upon continued presence of wirelesssignals from data sources that are not registered with data hub 102.

Block 608 is a decision. If, in block 608, method 600 determines thatthe ride is complete, method 600 continues with block 610; otherwise,method 600 continues with block 602. Thus, blocks 602-608 repeat tocollect data of the ride.

In block 610, method 600 processes data of the cyclist account andgenerates tracking data of the ride. In one example of block 610,tracker 314 processes one or both of inferred data 334 and environmentaldata 336 and generates tracking data 337 defining a path and timeline ofmovement of data hub 102 and bicycle 103. In block 612, method 600processes data of the cyclist account and generates usage data. In oneexample of block 612, usage module 316 analyzes one or more of personaldata 332, inferred data 334, and environmental data 336 and generatesusage data 338 indicative of usage and/or wear of bicycle 103 and/orcomponents (e.g., brakes, gear selectors, chain, bearings, etc.)attached to bicycle 103 based upon measured conditions, type andseverity of terrain, and so on.

Block 614 is a decision. If, in block 614, method 600 determines thatmaintenance is due, method 600 continues with block 616; otherwise,method 600 continues with block 618. In block 616, method 600 processesdata of cyclist account to generate a maintenance report. In one exampleof block 616, maintenance module 318 processes usage data 338 andmaintenance data 340 and generates maintenance report 342 indicative ofmaintenance recommended for bicycle 103 based upon use of bicycle 103.

Block 618 is a decision. If, in block 618, method 600 determines that aretailer has requested a retail report, method 600 continues with block620; otherwise, method 600 continues with block 622. In block 620,method 600 processes data to generate a retail report. In one example ofblock 620, report generator 320 processes database 274 and generatesretail report 346.

Block 622 is a decision. If, in block 622, method 600 determines that amanufacturer has requested a manufacturer report, method 600 continueswith block 624; otherwise, method 600 terminates. In block 624, method600 processes data to generate a manufacturer report. In one example ofblock 624, report generator 320 processes database 274 and generatesmanufacturer report 344.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating data collection by data hub102 of FIG. 1 in a sport application. In this example, data hub 102 maybe integrated into, or attached to, a bicycle (e.g., bicycle 103) thatis being ridden in a cycle race. Data hub 102 collects data, such astemperature, humidity, and so on, of the race environment from onboardsensors 226. Data hub 102 also collects performance data (e.g., power,speed, cadence, and so on) from the bicycle and personal metrics (e.g.,heartrate, breathing rate, perspiration rate, and so on) of the cyclist.Data hub 102 may also detect presence of other cyclists 702(1)-(3) inthe race when their wireless signals are received (e.g., when they arewithin wireless range). In certain embodiments, as described above, datahub 102 may infer other status or situations from received wirelesssignals. Data hub 102 may also detect presence of vehicle 704 (e.g., asupport vehicle or pace vehicle) when V2X wireless signals are receivedby data hub 102 from vehicle 704. Data hub 102 may also receiveenvironmental data from other nearby environmental sensors 706 (e.g.,IoT weather sensors, weather recorded via smartphone sensors andapplications, sensors in the cyclists power-meter, heartrate monitor,sport watch, and bicycle head unit).

Data hub 102 may store this information within memory 222 (e.g., in databuffer 246) until after the ride completes, or may transfer at leastpart of the data to mobile communication device 110 if in range (e.g.,carried by the cyclist) or to a vehicle via a B2X communication. Either,or both, of the vehicle 704 or mobile communication device 110 may relaydata from data hub 102 to server 170.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating example data collection bydata hub 102 of FIG. 1 in a medical application. Data hub 102 may beattached to, or worn by, an individual and operates to collect dataabout that individual for medical purposes. For example, data hub 102may collect physiological data 802 from physiological devices (e.g.,heartrate, respiration rate, etc.). Data hub 102 may also collectshardware status data 804 from medical equipment used by the individual.For example, data hub 102 may collect an operating status (e.g., batterylevel, fault indication, etc.) of a pacemaker or insulin pump, and storeand/or relay that information to server 170. Where the individual has beprescribed a certain exercise regime, data hub 102 may collect exercisedata 806 from exercise and/or sports equipment used by the individual.Data hub 102 may collect other quantifiable metrics 810 that relate tothe individual, and relay this data to server 170.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating example relative positiontracking by multiple data hubs 102 of FIG. 1 using time of flight andangle of arrival. In this example, data hubs 102(1)-(4) are at knownlocations. For example, data hubs 102(1)-(4) may each utilize a locator264 to receive GPS signals to determine their respective locations.Alternatively, one or more of data hubs 102(1)-(4) are staticallylocated and are aware of their geographic locations. Data hub 102(5) isattached to an object to be tracked. For example, data hub 102(5) may beattached to a valuable asset, be configured as a visitor's badge andworn by the visitor, be an employee badge, and so on. For convenience ofsize and power usage, data hub 102(5) may omit certain components (e.g.,locator 264) and thereby have reduced capability (as compared to datahub 102 of FIG. 2 ). However, one or more of data hubs 102(1)-(4) mayuse time-of-flight capability to determine distance from data hub102(5), such that, based upon at least three distance measurement andthe know locations of data hubs 102(1)-(4), a location of data hub102(5) may be determined. Advantageously, the network of data hubs102(1)-(4) may track the location of the object to which data hub 102(5)is attached.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating example communicationbetween data hub 102 of FIG. 1 and one or more mobile communicationdevices 110 (e.g., cell phones) or other network-enabled devices fordata transfer and for finding data hub 102 (and assets attached thereto)when lost. In this example, each mobile communication device 110(1)-(4)runs mobile application 282 and may thereby communicate with data hub102 (even though no specifically paired with data hub 102). For example,each mobile communication device 110(1)-(4) may be paired with otherdata hubs (not shown), but, when within wireless range of data hub 102,may receive messages therefrom. For example, where data hub 102 isconfigured to transmit, at intervals, a wireless signal beaconcontaining its unique identifier 232, when one or more of mobilecommunication device 110(1)-(4) are within wireless range of data hub102, that mobile communication device 110 may receive the wirelesssignal beacon. Mobile communication device 110 may, upon receiving thewireless signal beacon, relay the received unique identifier 232 toserver 170 with a current location of mobile communication device 110.Accordingly, server 170 may infer an approximate location of data hub102 based upon the received location. Where data hub 102 is reportedlost or stolen, server 170 may track the location of data hub 102 andinform a responsible party (e.g., the owner and/or law enforcement).

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating example data collectionusing data hub 102 of FIG. 1 for data transfer to one or more mobilecommunication devices 110(1)-(2) (e.g., cell phones, and othernetwork-enabled devices), and for locating data hub 102 when lost. Inthis example, data hub 102 collects data from a plurality of datasources 1102 (e.g., sports equipment, medical devices, environmentalsensors, vehicles, and so on). Data hub 102 may then transfer thecollected data to mobile communication device 110(1) (e.g., the owner'ssmartphone), wherefrom it may be relayed to server 170.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional schematic illustrating integration 1200 ofdata hub 102 of FIG. 1 into a head portion 1202 of a bicycle frame 1204.FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional schematic illustrating further exampledetail of the integration 1200 of data hub 102 of FIG. 12 . FIGS. 12 and13 are best viewed together with the following description.

FIG. 12 shows a portion of a front wheel 1206, front forks 1208, a stem1210, a head tube 1212, and a cross-bar of a frame 1214. Integration1200 of data hub 102 at a top surface of the cross-bar of frame 1214allows cyclist 150 to easily interact with data hub 102, and allowssolar type energy harvesters 210 to harvest energy from the sun. Datahub 102 may have an outer housing 1302, shown to include a printedcircuit board 1306, secondary battery 206, energy harvester 210, anddisplay 228. For clarity of illustration, not all components of data hub102 are shown in FIG. 13 , and housing 1302 may include other components(e.g., onboard sensors 226, communicator 214, power circuit 208,processor 220, memory 222, etc.), as part of printed circuit board 1306.As shown, housing 1302 fits within a recessed aperture of frame 1214 andis retained by retaining snaps 1304 such that a transparent cover screen1308 is flush with an outer surface of frame 1214. As noted above,display 228 may be omitted without departing from the embodimentshereof.

Changes may be made in the above methods and systems without departingfrom the scope hereof. It should thus be noted that the matter containedin the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. The followingclaims are intended to cover all generic and specific features describedherein, as well as all statements of the scope of the present method andsystem, which, as a matter of language, might be said to falltherebetween.

What is claimed is:
 1. A solar wireless collector beacon, comprising: aprocessor; a memory in electronic communication with the processor; aunique identifier stored in the memory; a communicator in electroniccommunication with the processor and operable to: communicate wirelesslyusing at least two different protocols, communicate through a network toa server, and identify other wireless devices near the solar wirelesscollector beacon; a plurality of onboard sensors configured to sense anenvironment of the solar wireless collector beacon, the plurality ofonboard sensors including one or more of an accelerometer, altimeter,humidity sensor, photosensor, camera, satellite navigation receiver, andthermometer; at least one solar panel; a rechargeable battery; a powercircuit for charging the rechargeable battery using power from the atleast one solar panel and for powering the processor, the memory, thecommunicator, and the plurality of onboard sensors from power stored inthe rechargeable battery; a housing, shaped to integrate with a vehicle,for containing the processor, the memory, the communicator, theplurality of onboard sensors, the at least one solar panel, therechargeable battery, and the power circuit; a data buffer configured aspart of the memory; and firmware, comprising machine-readableinstructions stored in the memory that, when executed by the processor,control the processor to: receive, using the communicator and one of theat least two different protocols, a first wireless signal from a firstdata source registered with the solar wireless collector beacon, thefirst wireless signal defining first data, store the first data aspersonal data in the data buffer, receive, using the communicator andone of the at least two protocols, a second wireless signal from asecond data source not registered with the solar wireless collectorbeacon, the second wireless signal defining second data; store thesecond data as anonymized data in the data buffer, determine, atintervals, a current location of the solar wireless collector beacon andstore the current location in the data buffer, read, at intervals,sensor data from the plurality of onboard sensors and store the sensordata in the data buffer, determine an environmental status of thevehicle based at least in part upon the sensor data, and transmit, atintervals, a message including the unique identifier, the currentlocation, and the environmental status, to a remote server.
 2. The solarwireless collector beacon of claim 1, the at least two differentprotocols comprising ANT+ and Bluetooth low energy (BLE).
 3. The solarwireless collector beacon of claim 2, the at least two differentprotocols further comprising one or more of IEEE 802.11p, LTE-V2X, andLTE-M.
 4. The solar wireless collector beacon (data hub) of claim 1,further comprising: an energy harvester configured with the vehicle toharvest energy from the vehicle; and machine-readable instructionsstored in the memory that, when executed by the processor, control theprocessor to: determine an operating status of the vehicle based atleast in part upon the sensor data, and control the energy harvester toharvest energy when the operating status indicates that excess energy isavailable.
 5. The solar wireless collector beacon of claim 4, the energyharvester being controlled to harvest energy when the operating statusindicates one of: the vehicle is travelling downhill and the vehicle isbraking.
 6. The solar wireless collector beacon of claim 1, the housingbeing configured for integration with a frame of a bicycle duringmanufacture of the frame.
 7. The solar wireless collector beacon ofclaim 6, the housing being sized to fit in a tube of the frame.
 8. Thesolar wireless collector beacon of claim 6, the housing beingpermanently configured with the frame.